University Hands-Only CPR Challenge led by Med-Direct student launches this week

A month-long interactive initiative to raise awareness and teach others how to perform hands-only CPR in emergency situations begins today at Wayne State University, Michigan State University, University of Michigan and Eastern Michigan University.

The “University Hands-Only CPR Challenge” was created by two Wayne State University undergraduate students, including Wayne Med-Direct undergraduate student Cedric Mutebi, with the American Heart Association of Southeast Michigan, to see which university can teach the most people hands-only CPR. Mutebi encourages everyone to post photos or videos related to challenge on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram, tagging @universityHOCPR and using the hashtag #Warriors4heart.

Cardiac arrest is a leading cause of death. CPR, if performed properly and immediately, can double or triple a cardiac arrest victim’s chance of survival.
A Challenge Week session will be held from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sept. 19 in the School of Medicine’s Margherio Conference Center.

While the official CPR Challenge runs Sept. 15-21, a pre-challenge launches Aug. 20, and will run through Sept. 21. During the pre-challenge, the American Heart Association will be on site to train those who would like to volunteer as hands-only instructors at their site before Challenge Week begins.

The sessions are open to all university students, faculty, staff, family and friends interested in participating.

The workshops are walk-in style and last about 30 minutes. No registration is required. Participants are welcome to drop in, be trained in hands-only CPR, then fill out an online survey at http://bit.ly/universitycpr.

The challenge winner will be determined by the highest number of points collected by each university, with training sessions during the pre-challenge counting worth half a point per person, and training sessions during challenge week counting as one point. All points will be measured by the online surveys.

Students may also enter to win raffle prizes during challenge week.

The AHA will be at the School of Medicine and other locations across WSU in the weeks leading up to Challenge Week to train people who would like to serve as trainers.